Tool for stripping insulation from wire or cable



June 11, 1963 1.. E. DEERING 3,092,906

TOOL FOR STRIPPING INSULATION FROM WIRE 0R CABLE Filed July 17, 1961INVENTOR Lawrence United States Patent 3,092,906 TOOL FUR STRIPPINGINSULATION FROM WIRE OR CABLE Lawrence E. Deering, 622 Ridgewood Road,Bel Air, Md. Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,739 14 Claims. (CI.30-91) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The inventiondescribed herein, patented, may be manufactured and used by and for theGovernment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

The present invention relates to a tool for stripping insulation fromwire or cable. It has to do particularly, although not exclusively, witha stripper which combines, in a single relatively small hand tool,removable and interchangeable cutting means for slitting cable or wireinsulation longitudinally thereof and also for cutting it transverselyor crosswise.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhand tool of the foregoing character which is so formed and proportionedas to receive and removably support 'a single cutting blade which bladeserves to perform the dual operations of longitudinally slittinginsulation on a wire or cable and of cutting it crosswise, ortransversely, to permit removal of the desired length of saidinsulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool or holderfor stripping insulation which accommodates, with equal facility, astandard double edge safety razor blade, a conventional single edgesafety razor blade having an enlarged reinforcing or heel portion, or anordinary conventional single edge flat blade, in which each type ofblade is rigidly, though releasably, held against movement in theholder.

A further object is to provide an improved and safe stripping tool orholder in accordance with the preceding paragraph, in which the blade isso located and held in the holder as to guard the cutting edge, or edgesthereof in a manner which entirely eliminates the danger of the usershand coming into contact therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedblade-holding frame, holder, or tool, which is of strong and durable,yet relatively simple and lightweight construction, having generallylike parts, halves, or sections, which are easily assembled anddisassembled to fixedly hold therebetween and/or release, a cuttingblade.

The foregoing and other objects anil advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the following description and appended claims whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a partof this specification, wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several views:

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of wire or cable insulationdual-acting stripping tool, frame, or holder, embodying the presentinvention, having a cutting blade therein;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the novel tool of thepreceding figure;

FIG. 3 is an inside face, or elevational view, of one half, or section,of the holder, with a conventional doubleedge cutting blade heldtherein, and showing a piece of insulated wire in a so-calledcross-cutting position in the crotch portion of the holder half, orsection;

FIG. 4 is a view of the tool similar to FIG. 3, showing a slotted andheeled, or reinforced, single edge conventional razor blade therein, andalso showing a length of insulated wire disposed lengthwise in thetrough-containing part or half of the holder;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along 3,092,906Patented June 11, 1963 the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, alsolooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, but takensubstantially along the line 7--7 of FIG. 4, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a piece of insulated wirewhich has been slit lengthwise and cross cut by the dual-action tool ofthe preceding views.

Before explaining in detail the present .nvention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It isto be understood also that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5thereof, there is shown one form of cable or wire stripper embodying thepresent invention, the device being indicated as a whole at 10. As bestseen in FIG. 2, the tool or stripper is formed from two like, orsubstantially like, parts or sections, one part thereof being designated.11, with the other cooperating part being shown as a whole at 12. Eachof these parts 11 and 12, whether assembled, as seen in FIG. 1, ordisassembled, as shown in FIG. 2, is preferably generally V-shaped incontour (see FIG. 2).

Each half or section has :a base or lower blade holding portion 13 andan upper integral diverging portion 14, the latter being hollowed outlongitudinally to provide one half or portion :17a of a cable orwire-receiving trough or channel 17, see FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7.

The base or blade-holding portion 13 of each half or part of the tool:10 is somewhat wider in its. upright dimension than is thetrough-containing upper portion 14. The top side of said base portion 13is preferably notched out, or relieved, to provide a depression 13awhich increases the upright dimension of the crotch-like area or portion9 adjacent the juncture of the divergent leg-like members 13 land 14.

Each half or section 11 and 12 is provided on its inner face with adepression 15, see particularly FIG. 2. These depressions 15 are adaptedto register when the two halves are assembled in their normal flatwisecondition of use (FIG. 1). Together, the depressed portions or recesses15, 15 provide a cutter blade-receiving space or pocket (FIGS. 5, 6 and7) which is of sufficient width and size generally to accommodate bladesof diiferent types, including a normal flat double-edge blade, as shownat B in FIGS. 3 and 5, or another conventional blade C having a singlecutting edge C and a heel or reinforcing portion C as shown in FIGS. 4and 7.

The halves or sections 11 and 12 are sep-arably held together by meansof bolts, cap screws, or studs 18 which are passed through plain drilledholes or bores 18a in the base portion 13 of section 11 which bores arecountersunk or recessed at 18b. They are then threaded into holes orsockets 19 in the base of the opposite tool section 12. A similar thirdscrew 21 is passed through a drilled countersunk bore 21a in the outerend portion of upper that itbeheld firmly in position so that there isno relative movement between the blade and the said supporting frame orholder. Moreover, it is desirable that the blade be supported in amanner which permits its adjustment relative to its pocket or socket inthe frame so that the amount of cutting edge which extends into thecrotch-like portion 9 of the tool 10 can be controlled in accordancewith the particular gauge of the cable or wire to be stripped. As shown,a pair of parallel slots or openings 20 is provided in the base portionsof each of the sections 11 and 12. The slots 20 are surrounded bycut-out, or countersunk portions 29a in the outer faces or surfaces ofthe base portions 13, 13 (FIG. 2) to provide, in effect, to receiveblade engaging and adjusting means or bolt members 23 and theirhexagonal securing nuts 24. Thus, the heads of screws or bolts 23 andthe nuts 24 lie flush with the outer surfaces or faces of both of thebase portions 13,'see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

In the novel insulation stripper of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a double-edgeblade B is employed. Thisblade is'of the commonly known Gillette typeand has the usual two cutting edges B and cutting edge corners B After ablade is assembled with the frame portions 11 and 12 and the securingbolts 18 and 21 threaded into position, the

bolts or screws 23 are passed through the parallel slots or openings 20and likewise through the conventional openings located generally in thecenter of blade B. The hexagonal nuts 24 which are located within thegrooved openings 20 at the opposite side of the stripper body and whichfit with sufficient closness to prevent their turning when the bolts 23are screwed down, receive said bolts and hold the parts 11 and 12 andthe blade B rigidly together as a unit.

It is to be understood that when blade B is positioned in pocket andbetween the two halves 11 and 12, the top cutting edge B of said bladeis disposed in the space between the upper and lower portions of thetool body and will thus extend into the so-called crotch-like portion 9thereof, as may be seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As-may be seen clearly in FIG. 1, when the parts '11 and 12 areassembled, there remains a relatively narrow longitudinal slot or space14a between the two halves 17a, 17a of the trough or channel 17. Byvirtue of the presence of this lengthwise slot 14a, one corner, in thisinstance, corner B of the cutting edge of blade B projects upward intosaid trough. This may be seen clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3.

If it is decided to adjust blade B so as to vary the amount ofprojection or extension of the corner 13 into the channel or trough 17,as well as the amount of projection of the cutting edge B into thecrotch-like portion 9, it is simply necessary to back off the bolts 23and to shift them up or down lengthwise of the slots 20, a, until thecutting edge B has assumed the desired position, after which the bolts23 are again tightened down to hold the blade B fixed in positionagainst accidental shifting movement relative to its supporting frame.or holder 10.

The amount of projection of the cutting edge B of the blade B into thespace 9 between the legs or arms of the stripper is determined andcontrolled in accordance with the over-all diameter or gauge of thecable or wire 30 whose insulation is to be stripped.

Referring now especially to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the stripper body 10 isshown supporting a cutter blade C of the single-edge type, having acutting edge C, a thickened reinforcing heel or portion C and two sharpcorners C As mentioned above, the lower portion of pocket 15 is of ampleWidth to loosely receive the thickened portion C has a pair of spacedparallel transverse slots,'or openings 25, through which the bolts 23are passed. As in the preceding form, cutting edge C extends upwardlyfrom the pocket 15 and into the crotch-like space 9 (see FIG. 4) betweenthe upper and lower parts of portions 14 and 13, respectively, of thestripper, while one sharp corner C of the cutting edge of the bladeprojects through the slot 14a in the trough or channel 17, see FIG. 4.

The novel stripper of the instant invention provides a single, commoncutting means to perform the dual functions of both slitting theinsulation of a wire or cable longitudinally, and of crosscutting, orsevering, the slit portion of said insulation, with the same strippingdevice or unit. The position of the parts and the insulated cable orwire are perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. In FIG. 4, alength of cable or wire 30 is shown positioned lengthwise of trough 17and in readiness to have the sheath of insulation thereon slitlongitudinally. The same cable or wire 30 is shown in position in thestripper, crosswise thereof, in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, with the insulation onthe cable being in contact with the upper leg 14 and the cutting edges Bor C" of the blades B and C.

The application of thumb pressure on the cable 30 as it is positioned inthe'trough 17, see FIG. 4, and the relative movement of the cable andthe stripping tool 10, will cause the sharp corner C at the left end ofblade C to slit the insulation on the cable. Such a longitudinal slit isshown at 34 in FIG. 8. a

When the cable 30 is placed crosswise in the crotch-like portion 9,between the upper and lower portions or members of the stripper, asshown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, rotation of said cable 30 relative to thestripping tool, or the rotation of the shipping tool 10 around the cable30, will cross-cut the same and thus produce the circumferential cut orsevered portion 35 in the sheath of insulation as shown in FIG. 8.

Merely by way of illustration, FIG. 8 shows a short length of one typeof insulated cable with which the tool of the present invention is used.In this view the cable is shown as a whole at 30 and comprisespreferably a fibre core 31, surrounded by a multiple of twisted insulated wires 32 which are enclosed by a sheath-like covering or jacket33 of insulating material such, for example, as rubber, plastic, or thelike. I

As stated above, FIG. 8 shows the relative positions of the longitudinalslit 34, made by the blade edge corner B or C of either blade B, or Cand the intersecting circumferential cross-cut 35, which is made by thecutting edge B or 'C.

I claim:

'1. A tool having a body adapted to be provided with detachable cuttingmeans for the successive operations of longitudinally slitting and forcross cutting the insulation from a length of insulation-covered wire orcable, said body having a cutter blade holding portion and a wire orcable receiving trough containing portion extending therefrom indiverging relationship thereto to provide a wedge-like crotch portiontherebetween, said blade holding portion having a pocket formed thereinopening toward the trough-containing portion to receive and removablysupport a cutting blade, means for holding the blade rigidly inposition, and said trough containing portion having a longitudinallyextending slot therethrough opposite and in alignment with the pocketopening, whereby when a cutter blade is disposed in said pocket aporslitting the same longitudinally.

2. A tool according to claim 1, whereinsaid body is of substantiallyV-sha-ped contour.

3. A tool according to claim 2, wherein the generally V-shaped bodythereof is formed from two like portions separably held together.

4. A tool according to claim 2, wherein the generally V-shaped bodythereof is formed from two substantially like portions, wherein thecutter blade receiving and supporting pocket is disposed between the twosubstantially like portions, and wherein means is provided for separablyholding said two portions together as a unit.

5. A tool according to claim 4, wherein said means includes bolts andnuts engageable with a blade in said pocket and adjustable transverselyof the cutter blade holding portion for varying the amount of exposureof the blade edge within the crotch portion and the amount of projectionof said blade corner into said trough.

6. A tool for stripping insulation from a wire or cable, comprising, incombination, a substantially V-shaped body formed from two substantiallylike parts releasably held together and adapted to receive and support acutter blade therebetween, releasable means for holding the two partstogether, one leg of said V-shaped two-part body being wider in onedimension than the other leg and having a blade receiving pockettherein, the other leg having a longitudinal wire or cable-receivingtrough in its outer face, the legs of said body providing a crotch-likespace in the vicinity of their juncture, the inner abutting faces of thetwo parts forming the body having registering recessed portions whichtogether provide said blade receiving pocket, and means for maintaininga blade in the pocket with a cutting edge thereof disposed Within saidcrotch-like space and having a corner of said edge projecting beyondsaid pocket and into said trough, whereby said cutting edge and saidcorner provide, respectively, means for cross cutting the insulation ona wire placed in said crotch-like space and for slitting the samelongitudinally when placed in said trough.

7. A wire insulation stripping tool according to claim 6, wherein saidlast-named means is adjustable transversely of the wider leg so as toadjust the blade to expose more or less of its cutting edge and saidcorner in said crotch-like space and in said trough, respectively.

8. A wire insulation stripping tool according to claim 6, wherein saidlast-named means is adjustable and includes a pair of spaced paralleltransverse slots in the wider leg of the two-part body, said slots beingin registry when the parts are assembled, and bolt and nut assemlies insaid pairs of slots engageable with the blade and being adjustablelengthwise of the said slots.

9. A tool according to claim 8, wherein the pairs of pairs of parallelslots have exposed countersunk marginal portions to receive the boltheads and nuts of the assemblies so as to lie flush with the outer facesof said wider leg.

10. A portable insulation stripping tool having, in combination, a bodyof generally V-shaped contour, comprising divergent leg portionsproviding a crotch-like space therebetween, one of said legs having alongitudinal concavity therein forming a trough to receive a length ofinsulated Wire or cable, the other leg having a cutter blade-receivingpocket therein opening into said crotchlike space, and stripping meanscomprising a cutter blade removably but firmly disposed in said pocketand having a portion of a cutting edge thereof extending into thecrotch-like space for cross-cutting the insulation on a wire placed insaid space, with an end of said cutting edge projecting into the troughfor longitudinally slitting the insulation on a wire when placedlengthwise therein and moved relatively thereto.

11. A stripping tool according to claim 10, wherein means is providedfor releasably locking the stripping means in said pocket.

12. A stripping tool according to claim 10, wherein adjustable means isprovided for releasably locking the stripping means in theblade-receiving pocket, and Wherein said adjustable means includes slotsin the tool body and bolt and nut assemblies cooperable with said slotsand stripping means whereby to control the extent of exposure of thecutting edge of the blade into the crotchlike space and the amount ofprojection of the end of said cutting edge into said trough in directproportion to the gauge of the insulated Wire or cable to be stripped.

13. A stripping tool according to claim 12, wherein the tool body isformed from two substantially identical parts releasably held togetherin fiatwise relationship by means of studs having countersunk heads.

14. A tool for stripping insulation from a wire or cable, comprising incombination, a body having angularly disposed portions joined togetherso as to provide a crotch therebetween, one of said portions having anexternal Wire-receiving trough formed therein, and the other bodyportion having a blade-receiving and supporting pocket therein openingtoward said crotch and in alignment with said trough, and a singlecutter blade in said pocket, said body being so proportioned andarranged that when the cutter blade is located in the pocket a cuttingedge thereof extends into said crotch and a corner of said cutting edgeprojects into the trough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,157,214 Genin Oct. 19, 1915 1,739,972 Klinger Dec. 17, 1929 2,875,516Parks Mar. 3, 1959 2,984,905 Harmon May 23, 1961

1. A TOOL HAVING A BODY ADAPTED TO BE PROVIDED WITH DETACHABLE CUTTINGMEANS FOR THE SUCCESSIVE OPERATIONS OF LONGITUDINALLY SLITTING AND FORCROSS CUTTING THE INSULATION FROM A LENGTH OF INSULATION-COVERED WIRE ORCABLE, SAID BODY HAVING A CUTTER BLADE HOLDING PORTION AND A WIRE ORCABLE RECEIVING TROUGH CONTAINING PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM INDIVERGING RELATIONSHIP THERETO TO PROVIDE A WEDGE-LIKE CROTCH PORTIONTHEREBETWEEN, SAID BLADE HOLDING PORTION HAVING A POCKET FORMED THEREINOPENING TOWARD THE TROUGH-CONTAINING PORTION TO RECEIVE AND REMOVABLYSUPPORT A CUTTING BLADE, MEANS FOR HOLDING THE BLADE RIGIDLY INPOSITION, AND SAID TROUGH CONTAINING PORTION HAVING A LONGITUDINALLYEXTENDING SLOT THERETHROUGH OPPOSITE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE POCKETOPENING, WHEREBY WHEN A CUTTER BLADE IS DISPOSED IN SAID POCKET APORTION OF A CUTTING EDGE THEREOF EXTENDS INTO SAID CROTCH PORTION WHILEA CORNER OF SAID CUTTING EDGE PROJECTS THROUGH THE LONGITUDINALLYEXTENDING SLOT IN SAID TROUGH CONTAINING PORTION AND INTO THE TROUGH TOPROVIDE, RESPECTIVELY, MEANS FOR CROSS CUTTING THE INSULATION AND FORSLITTING THE SAME LONGITUDINALLY.